A memory unit such as a memory card is removably attachable to a data processing unit such as a digital video recorder or an audio recording/reproducing unit. The memory unit includes a non-volatile memory, a security unit for protecting the security of data stored in the non-volatile memory, and an interface that receives control data from the data processing unit. The control data is either first control data for a read or write operation with respect to the non-volatile memory, or second control data (different from the first control data) for a security operation of the security unit. Thus, a security-type memory card is compatible with both a security type and a non-security type data processing unit.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A memory unit removably attachable to a data processing unit, said memory unit comprising: a non-volatile memory; security means for protecting the security of data stored in said non-volatile memory; and an interface for receiving, from the data processing unit, first control data and second control data different from said first control data, said interface supplying received first control data for a read or write operation with respect to said non-volatile memory, and supplying received second control data for a security operation of said security means; wherein the memory unit is removably attachable to and operational with a non-security type data processing unit that transmits said first control data and does not transmit said second control data, and is also removably attachable and operational with a security type data processing unit that transmits both said first and second control data.
2. The memory unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein following the reception by said interface of said first or second control data, said interface receives data associated with the respective said first or second control data.
3. The memory unit as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said data received after said first control data or said second control data includes a first command for the reading or writing operation for said non-volatile memory and a second command different from said first command for the security operation.
4. The memory unit as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said interface supplies said first command for the reading or writing operation for said non-volatile memory and supplies said second command for the security operation of said security means.
5. The memory unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the non-security and security type data processing units are each selected from the group consisting of an audio recorder/player and an image recording/reproducing device.
6. A memory unit removably attachable to a data processing unit, said memory unit comprising: a non-volatile memory; circuit means for accessing said non-volatile memory; security means for protecting the security of data stored in said non-volatile memory; and an interface for receiving, from the data processing unit, first control data and second control data different from said first control data, said interface supplying received first control data for a read or write operation with respect to said non-volatile memory, and supplying received second control data for a security operation of said security means; wherein said interface comprises detection means for detecting whether incoming control data from said data processing unit is said first control data or said second control data, and switching means for switching said control data in accordance with the detection of said detection means, and in a manner such that said first control data is supplied to said circuit means for accessing said non-volatile memory and said second control data is supplied to said security means.
7. The memory unit as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said circuit means for accessing said non-volatile memory comprises a command register that stores said first control data and a memory interface and sequencer for controlling writing/reading of data to/from said non-volatile memory responsive to an output of said command register.
8. A memory unit removably attachable to a data processing unit, said memory unit comprising: a non-volatile memory; security means for protecting the security of data stored in said non-volatile memory; an interface for receiving, from the data processing unit, first control data and second control data different from said first control data, said interface supplying received first control data for a read or write operation with respect to said non-volatile memory, and supplying received second control data for a security operation of said security means; and a page buffer, a write register and a read register, each operatively coupled between said interface and said non-volatile memory, wherein said interface outputs data received by said interface following said first control data to at least one of said page buffer, said write register and said read register.
9. A memory unit removably attachable to a data processing unit, said memory unit comprising: a non-volatile memory; security means for protecting the security of data stored in said non-volatile memory; and an interface for receiving, from the data processing unit, first control data and second control data different from said first control data, said interface supplying received first control data for a read or write operation with respect to said non-volatile memory, and supplying received second control data for a security operation of said security means; wherein said security means is configured to protect security of data stored in the non-volatile memory in association with security means of said data processing unit by sharing a session key with said security means of said data processing unit.
10. A data processing unit for recording data to a memory unit removably attached thereto, said memory unit having a non-volatile memory and a security means, said data processing unit comprising: an interface for communicating with said memory unit; and security means for protecting the security of data stored in the non-volatile memory in cooperation with the security means of said memory unit by sharing a session key with the security means of said memory unit; wherein said data processing unit transmits through said interface first control data for a reading or writing operation with respect to the non-volatile memory and second control data, which is different from said first control data, for a security operation.
11. The data processing unit as set forth in claim 10 , wherein following the transmission of said first or second control data, said data processing unit transmits data associated with the respective first or second control data.
12. The data processing unit as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said data transmitted after said first control data or said second control data includes a first command for the reading or writing operation for said non-volatile memory and a second command being different from said first command for the security operation.
13. A data processing system having a data processing unit and a memory unit removably attached to said data processing unit, said memory unit having a non-volatile memory and a security means, wherein said data processing unit comprises security means for protecting the security of the data stored in the non-volatile memory in cooperation with the security means of said memory unit by sharing a session key with the security means of said memory unit, said data processing system comprising interface means disposed in at least one of said data processing unit and said memory unit, wherein first control data for a reading or writing operation for the non-volatile memory and second control data different from said first control data for a security operation are transmitted through said interface means from said data processing unit to said memory unit.
14. A data processing method in a data processing system having a data processing unit and a memory unit removably attached to said data processing unit, said memory unit comprising a non-volatile memory and a security means for protecting the security of data stored in said non-volatile memory, said method comprising the steps of: selectively transmitting, from said data processing unit to said memory unit, first control data for a reading or writing operation with respect to the non-volatile memory, or second control data which is different from said first control data for a security operation; and said memory unit receiving said transmitted control data, determining whether it is first or second control data, and supplying received first control data to circuitry for accessing said non-volatile memory and received second control data to said security means; wherein the memory unit is removably attachable to and operational with a non-security type data processing unit that transmits said first control data and does not transmit said second control data, and is also removably attachable and operational with a security type data processing unit that transmits both said first and second control data.
15. A method for use in a memory unit removably attached to a data processing unit, said memory unit comprising a non-volatile memory and a security unit for protecting the security of data stored in said non-volatile memory, said method comprising the steps of: receiving at said memory unit control data transmitted by the data processing unit, said control data being either first control data for a reading or writing operation, or second control data different from said first control data for a security operation; and determining whether the received control data is said first or second control data, and supplying received first control data to access said non-volatile memory and supplying received second control data to said security unit; wherein the memory unit is removably attachable to and operational with a non-security type data processing unit that transmits said first control data and does not transmit said second control data, and is also removably attachable and operational with a security type data processing unit that transmits both said first and second control data.
16. The method as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said received first control data is supplied to access said non-volatile memory by supplying said received first control data to a command register that stores said first control data and outputs a command to a memory interface and sequencer for controlling writing/reading of data to/from said non-volatile memory.
17. A memory unit removably attachable to a data processing unit, said memory unit comprising: a non-volatile memory; security means for protecting the security of data stored in said non-volatile memory; interface means for receiving control codes from the data processing unit; and determining means for determining whether a control code received by said interface is a first code assigned for a non-volatile memory access operation, or a second, different control code assigned for a security operation; wherein if said received control code is determined to be said first control code, data received by said interface means following said received control code is routed to said non-volatile memory, and if said received control code is determined to be said second control code, data received by said interface means following said received control code is routed to said security means.
18. A method for use in a memory unit removably attached to a data processing unit, said memory unit comprising a non-volatile memory and a security unit for protecting the security of data stored in said non-volatile memory, said method comprising the steps of: receiving at said memory unit a control code transmitted by the data processing unit, said control code being either a first control code assigned for a non-volatile memory access operation, or a second, different control code assigned for a security operation; determining whether the received control code is said first or second control code; and receiving at said memory unit data following receipt of said control code; wherein if said received control code is determined to be said first control code, said data received following said received control code is routed to said non-volatile memory, and if said received control code is determined to be said second control code, said data received following said received control code is routed to said security unit.
19. A memory unit removably attachable to a data processing unit, said memory unit comprising: a non-volatile memory; security means for protecting the security of data stored in said non-volatile memory; and an interface for receiving, from the data processing unit, first or second information indicating that data to be subsequently written to said non-volatile memory will not be secured, or will be secured, respectively; wherein if said second information is received, said security means performs a security operation to enable data subsequently received by said interface to be secured prior to being written to said non-volatile memory, and if said first information is received, said security means does not perform said security operation whereby said subsequently received data is not secured when written to said non-volatile memory.
20. The memory unit according to claim 19 , wherein if said security operation is performed, said data is encrypted prior to being written to said non-volatile memory.
21. The memory unit according to claim 20 , wherein said data is encrypted with the use of a session key that is shared between said security means of said memory unit and a security means of said data processing unit.
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April 6, 2000
September 9, 2003
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